Advocacy worker Cathie Birta has already spoken to the members of the Grapevine Drop-In Centre in Spon End about the Evening Telegraph Coventry and Warwick-shire Community Awards.

Advocacy worker Cathie Birta has already spoken to the members of the Grapevine Drop-In Centre in Spon End about the Evening Telegraph Coventry and Warwick-shire Community Awards.

Staff at the centre work with adults who have learning difficulties but who often drop in after work and are keen to exercise more choice over their futures.

Cathie doesn't yet know whether any of her colleagues or the regular members who drop in at the centre in Doe Bank Lane will feel brave enough to put each others' names forward.

But as far as she is concerned, the adults with learning difficulties who two years ago complained about their 45p a week "therapeu-tic earnings" were all heroes who stood up for their principles.

"They told me it was not so much the money as their dignity that was at stake," says Cathie who, as a self-advocacy worker, saw it as her job to help the Grapevine members make their views known.

As a result Coventry City Council agreed to increase the therapeutic pay structure which has been of benefit to everyone in sheltered employment ever since.

Cathie said: "The self-confidence that grew from our members just having their voice heard was terrific.

"The support we received from the Evening Telegraph also helped enormously.

"Right now several of our members are working to restore a garden in the grounds of the old Spon Gate School which will benefit the local community. I'll certainly be wondering whether I can put a few names forward for your health and welfare and environmental categories."